GAEL DAMAGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 10

GAEL DAMAGED

STRUCK AT GREYMOUTH

NOW LEAKING IN PORT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

GREYMOUTH, This Day,

The wooden motor-ship Gael, 108 tons, while entering port this morning from Jackson's Bay, struck the tiphead and badly damaged her bow, springing the planks. She reached the wharf leaking seriously

Captain Tregidga stated: "Although the bar 'dangerous' signals were hoisted, I considered there was not too much sea, for the vessel often made port under worse conditions. I believed the signals referred to larger, vessels which have been in the roadstead for several days, and that as has happened previously my approach from the south had not been noticed by the signalman. Unfortunately a big sea caught the stern of the Gael, which, owing to her unloaded condition, was difficult to handle."

The vessel is being beached on the Cobden slip this afternoon, and meanwhile the pumps are operating.

A crew of seven and four passengers were on board. The Gael was built at Glasgow in 1903. She was formerly owned by the Northern Shipping Company, and was purchased by the South Westland Company in 1928. She was converted to Diesel power in 1930.